Authors Note: First I want to apologise for the length of my last two chapters, they were short. Too short I think. I did seriously consider combining them, but I thought the story needed breaking up. I also want to thank everyone who reviewed, and though this story is almost finished, I encourage people to continue reviewing, with comments and criticism. I am posting another story very soon and comments help build me as an author. So please keep reviewing.

LostSwallow

Chapter 15:

The train ride home was quiet, Darien drove Trista, Amara and Michelle back and the cats were looking after Rini and Hotaru, so as the girls could have some time with Serena. She told them of her plan to tell her family about the sailor scouts, they agreed it was for the best and Serena promised them that one day they could all tell their families. Upon arriving at the station Amara and Michelle took off on Amara's bike, saying they'd drop in on the scout meeting tomorrow afternoon. Trista said she had to go back home and Darien took Rini and Hotaru to his house for a while to play. The girls caught the bus to the shrine and told Serena they'd be there if she needed them. Luna walked home with Serena in silence.

In the Tsukino house Ikuko sat at the table staring sadly at it. Sammy and Ken had gone out to take Sammy's mind off of Serena. She felt lonely. Oh Serena, why did you leave us? Her daughter, her oldest child, she loved her so much. She heard the door open and close, but didn't register it. Then she heard a voice from behind her.

"Mum…?" A soft voice, Serena's voice. She stood up and spun around.

"Serena!" She cried. She ran to her daughter and hugged her tightly.

"Hi Mum." Serena said.

"Oh Serena, where have you been? Why did you leave?" She demanded without force.

"Mum, we have to talk." They sat down at the table. "Mum I am a Sailor Scout." Serena said. "All those weird things that have happened over the past year or so, well it was all enemies of the sailor scouts." She said awkwardly. Serena's mother let out a sob.

"Oh really Serena?" She asked. Serena nodded.

"I know it's hard to bel…"

"No, no, no." Her mother interrupted. "I believe you."

"I'm Sailor Moon, and… I'm also a princess. I'm Princess Serenity, I used to live in the Moon Kingdom, but war came and to save me and my friends my mother, Queen Serenity, used the last of her power to send us to earth, and be reborn." Serena said quickly. Her mother smiled.

"Tell me all about it, and why you ran away." Serena proceeded to tell her mother about every battle and the other girls and Darien, she told her about Rini and the future, she told her why she ran away and how her friends helped her. They sat for hours in the kitchen talking and Serena told her everything. She introduced her to Luna as well.

As Ken opened the door to his house her heard voices coming from the dining room. He looked at Sammy who shrugged. He called out to announce that they were home and as they approached the dining room and figure with long blonde hair bowled into him and held tight around his waist.

"Dad…" It cried.

"Serena?" He asked. She pulled her head back and smiled up at him. "Serena!" He said and pulled her back into the hug, when he let go, she latched onto Sammy, who enjoyed it for a second before giving a cry of.

"Eww, Serena, get off!" She laughed and dragged them back to the table.

"Honey Serena has something she needs to tell you." Ikuko said as her husband sat down. Serena slowly explained to her father and brother about being Sailor Moon and saving the world. They listened carefully and accepted things as they were. Then she transformed for them, as her last bit of proof. She quickly changed back.

"So…" Her dad said slowly. "This means one day you and 'that boy' are going to… create Rini!" He asked. Serena went red and nodded nervously. "Serena! If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times, that boy is too old for you!" He yelled. But Serena saw in his eyes that he wasn't concerned. She laughed along with her mother and Sammy.

"Oh my Serena is that really you!" Her mother said with delight as she looked at Serena's modelling photos. She'd brought home copies of them to show her mother and friends. They poured over them as her dad and Sammy called people to tell them she had returned. Serena's parents took the idea of their daughter being a Sailor Moon surprisingly well. Sammy thought it was kinda cool, but managed to tease his sister anyway.

"It was kinda fun mum, but really tiring. And they put way too much make up on my face." Serena said happily. She handed over some of her money to her mother. She tried to refuse, but Serena insisted and said she owed her mother for all that she's done. It led to a heart warming moment.

"Serena." Her mother said turning serious. "You realise you still have to continue with school, it is very important for you to be well educated." Serena laughed and groaned at the same time.

"Yeah mum I know." She smiled. "I was actually hoping I could go back tomorrow." Her mother smiled and nodded. Later that night the family headed contently off to bed. Except for Luna and Serena's mother, who seemed to be getting along quite well.

Ami nervously headed to Serena's house that morning, she knocked on the door tentatively. She gave a sigh of relief when Serena answered the door.

"Hey Ami!" The blonde said brightly.

"Morning Serena." She replied. Serena grabbed he bag and called goodbye only to be chased by her mother with her lunch. Once they had retrieved Serena's lunch, they kept walking to school. Upon arriving they found a jumpy Lita awaiting them.

"Oh!" She cried in surprise as they approached her. "You're here!"

"What's up with you two today?" Serena asked curiously.

"Well," Ami began, "when you ran away we were the first to know something was wrong, we just didn't want a repeat performance." She said jokingly.

"SERENA!" A voice yelled from across the school yard. Molly and Melvin came running across. "Where've you been?" Molly demanded upon arriving. Serena laughed. "It's not funny, we were all seriously worried." She said with a little anger in her voice. Serena apologised.

"I guess… things were kinda tough for a while, I just couldn't take it anymore." She sighed; she hated lying, especially to a good friend like Molly.

"Oh," Molly looked unbelieving. "I never knew you to be so stressed…" she looked away. "We have to talk more Serena; I'm always here for you." Serena smiled.

"I know." She said. Then the bell rang, demanding they went to class.

The three girls walked into Rei's room chatting happily.

"Mum said I can have Darien over for dinner sometime, dads warmed up to the idea now, knowing that we've known each other for thousands of years." Serena blabbed joyfully.

"But you can't remember the Moon Kingdom." Lita pointed out. Serena grinned slyly.

"I may have forgotten to point that out." Her smile grew.

"So, that means your father approves." A voice came from behind her and arms wrapped around her, hugging her.

"Not exactly." Serena giggled as she turned to face Darien.

"Oh will you love birds quit it, this is a meeting." Rei said with mock indignity. Serena laughed and sat down with the others.

"So Serena," Said Mina as Serena sat down. "How'd they take it at the agency when you told them you were leaving?"

"Well naturally they were disappointed." Serena replied. "But they were happy I was going back to my family and friends, and I have Kiara, Tai and Luna's phone numbers." She smiled gently.

"Oh them," Lita said darkly.

"They aren't very good influences." Darien agreed.

"Oh c'mon guys, they were just trying to help me." Serena argued.

"Yeah, but they weren't very nice to us, and we were so worried." Lita said.

"Plus, they weren't doing themselves any favours, their lives were at risk, sending Darien on a wild goose chase; he would've caused them serious injury if it weren't for me and Michelle." Amara added stepping through the door. Darien's face grew dark at the memory. The girl jumped up to greet their friends, and when they sat down again, Darien still looked angry. Serena quickly tried to fix this.

"Please Darien, forgive them, they aren't so bad." But this didn't seem to have much of an effect. "If you must know the truth, it was my idea to send you off in the wrong direction." Serena said sadly. There was a mock gasp from someone. Rei… not helping! Serena thought.

"I told you in my dream I was told you guys weren't to help me or you'd be destroyed, so I was going to fight the first of the smoke spirits and Kieran told me you guys were there, I had to do something." She explained hurriedly, she looked up at Darien. "I'm sorry." She added. He kissed her quickly, and then Rei demanded their attention, so the meeting could continue. Amara and Michelle announced they'd be leaving the next morning. To the cries of objection, they promised they'd be back soon enough. So the meeting turned out to be more of a party than anything else. They just sat around and talked.

Darien walked Serena home after the meeting. Serena convinced him to come inside and say hello. Serena swung the door open and called out.

"I'm home!" She pulled Darien in the door and closed it behind him. He stood nervously next to her until she pulled him into the kitchen.

"Hey Mum!" She said. Her mother looked up; when she saw Darien she hurried around the bench.

"Oh Hello, you're Darien." She said smiling and shaking his hand.

"Yes, and you're Serena's mother." He said nervously. His eyes darting around looking for Serena's father.

"Oh please, call me Ikuko!" She said. The Serena's father entered the kitchen, accompanied by Sammy.

"Dad, Sammy, I would like you to meet Darien." Serena said pulling him over to them. One look at Serena's father and Darien thought Oh no, this was a bad idea…

"Hello Mr. Tsukino, Sammy." He said holding out his hand nervously. Serena's father looked him up and down, and then shook his hand.

"So you're the boy?" He asked. Darien nodded. Ken looked him over again.

"You can call me Ken." He said. Darien relaxed. Serena's mother patted her husband on the shoulder.

"Would you like to stay for dinner Darien?" She asked.

"Umm, well…" Darien looked to Serena. She nodded. "Okay." He replied.

"So Darien what do you plan to do when you finish school?" Ken asked. Serena guided Darien to the table where he sat down and talked with Ken for a long time. Serena sat with Darien all through dinner and after dinner as her father questioned him. Later after Darien had left for home and everyone had gone to bed, Ken went in to bid his daughter goodnight.

"Serena," He said from the doorway after kissing her goodnight.

"Yes dad?" She asked sleepily.

"You chose well." He said and left. Serena smiled and went to sleep feeling as though everything was perfect.